Byron Ledge

About half-way through the hike the trail descends onto Byron Ledge. It is named for Lord Byron, a cousin of the poet, who camped on the ledge in 1825. Byron's lieutenant made the first map of the summit of Kilauea. In 1832, an eruption occurred on Byron Ledge that last only a few days. Byron Ledge is a block of rock that is uplifted relative to down dropped rocks in Kilauea Iki crater and Kilauea Caldera.

As the trail descends there are opportunities to look on to the top of the canopy of the Hawaiian rain forest. Ohia and hapuu make most of the canopy. Photo by Steve Mattox, July, 1990.

Asiatic anemone, a non-aggressive alien plant, can be found along the trail on Byron Ledge. Photo by Steve Mattox, July, 1990.

The trail splits on Byron Ledge. Byron Ledge Trail continues towards the floor of the caldera and Halemaumau Crater. The forest on Byron Ledge is less dense relative to the forest at Thurston Lava Tube or Kilauea Overlook. This reflects the relatively lower amount of rain at Byron Ledge. Photo by Steve Mattox, July, 1990.

A series of switch backs descends the steep wall of Byron Ledge down to the pit crater floor. The trail continues to the vent of the 1959 eruption and across the crater floor. Puu Puai is near the center of the photo. Devastation Trail is on the top left and skirts the tephra deposit from the eruption. Photography by Jim Griggs, U.S. Geological Survey.

Kilauea Iki Trail

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